I've been getting this email daily this week for the 5 day Mom Prayer challenge. They have been really thought provoking. In fact so much so that I felt compelled to write this and confess my wrong doing. You see, I started planning my daughter's birthday a couple weeks ago. That's 5 weeks ahead of time. The invites were complete and sent 4 weeks ahead, and I'm pretty much finished with everything else with the exception of the food of course. I'll wait for a week before for that one. I've put lots of thought and love into planning a beautiful party for Hannah's 5th birthday. Why? Because I love this girl. I love her with all the love this mommy heart can muster, and I want her to feel special. Special to me and special to everyone else that will be there. She is special. I love her! So when my special day rolls around whether it is Mother's Day or my birthday, I have the desire to feel just as special, to know someone was thinking about me and planned something to make me feel extra special. Instead, most years it's a "Happy Mothers Day" or "Happy Birthday" and if I'm lucky there may be a gift of interesting kind. I remember a flower basket that was so sadly lacking with flowers that were very unattractive. And most years I want to cry. Because I wasn't thought of ahead of time, and no research went into what would I want and what would make me feel special.

BUT... what have I been focusing on so very much? ME... and what is our purpose while we live on this earth in this life? To give GLORY TO GOD in EVERYTHING that we think, say, and do. Was I shining Jesus in these thoughts and my grumpy attitude? NO! It was all about ME.

So this year, I choose to be happy and thank God for all that I have and that HE thought about me long before Mother's Day and long before each birthday, and HE gave me the best gift in the world that could make me feel special: the gift of forgiveness through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ!

If I want to do something special for these two days every year, I will plan it. I will stop hoping and expecting to feel special through other's actions. I am special to my family and I choose to embrace that. Amen!

Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

This is my daughter Hannah, named after the prophet Samuel's mother who's great faith in a GREAT GOD resulted in HIM opening up her barren womb and giving her a magnificent son, Samuel. What an AWESOME God we serve!

This week Hannah graduated from being a Cubby at Awana (a children's Bible club) to being a Sparky! In September she'll no longer be a little girl but a big girl, moving on to an older group of kids and also, dare I type it without crying, a KINDERGARDENER! I am so proud of the young girl she is becoming. She is beyond smart and always fun, spunky, and a super fun traveler. Hannah was accepted into the Spanish Immersion kindergarden at Evergreen Christian School. We are so excited for this amazing opportunity that will be to her advantage in the years to come. And, all despite my goals of having her attend another Christian school here. Yes, I had in my mind from the day she was born which schools she would attend. God had a bigger and better plan for her though and I'm so humbled that he orchestrated a series of events to show us in a tangible way which path he wanted Hannah on. God still moves and directs us!

Now on a rabbit trail here. I have to admit my faith and commitment to Christ Jesus has been stale lately to put it mildly. I find myself running all day long until I collapse at night and realize that I didn't get to my devotional or reading the Word of God or saying a single tangible prayer. I have been horribly bad at putting God in front of me to ensure I'm walking with Him throughout the day. I feel it. I have been doing things in my own strength instead of leaning on the One that provides strength. And now, after the amazing week I have had, in awe that God is still pursuing ME.

Okay back to it, another awesome thing that happened this week was I received an amazing generous raise. I was not expecting such a large raise and am thankful and humbled that my amazing boss thinks I deserve it. On a side note, this did not push us into another tax bracket which I am so thankful for. We are still at almost 30% of our incomes going to taxes. Even so I'm still a little irritated at that percent. Plus sales tax, property tax, vehicle tax, air-you-breath tax... oh wait. They haven't done that one yet.

So an exciting week! Filled with blessing after undeserving blessing. I am filled with thanksgiving to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

On to meal planning. Did anyone else do a meal plan last week? I had a few things I substituted throughout the week because I was sick for the first half and couldn't eat much except bland foods. Has anyone else had that? It lasted just short of a week. I'm glad I'm better! I've lost 2 pounds this week :)

So here's my meal plan this week. I'll even put down a grocery list in case anyone else is interested in it. So here we go!

MondayBreakfast:SWEET POTATO QUICHEThis could easily provide breakfast for the entire week! However I think I will cut the recipe in half and make something else for the later half of the week. For those of us that are in a hurry in the morning, I suggest making this Sunday evening and refrigerating it. A substitution I'll be doing is less sweet potatoes and adding spinach for some greens and to make it less carbs.

Lunch:Gluten-free Pasta Salad with VegetablesThis is a delicious salad! I have started to make sure the things I make have veggies or fruit in them at all times. This one expect and delight in leftovers!

WednesdayBreakfast:Cinnamon Apple Pecan OatmealThis is one of my favorite breakfasts! I subbed in gluten free steel cut oats. To alter the recipe:1. Put 1 cup of steel cut oats into 3 cups of water and add cut-up apple and dash of salt. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and cover to simmer for 15-20 minutes2. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp cinnamon, honey and chopped pecans. Divide into two bowls and eat one and store the other for leftovers.

One new thing I've subjected my family to is a change in diet. I have a daughter that continues to grow her waist outwards (moving into the size an 8 or 10 year old wears!) and is showing signs she may have the same fight ahead of her with her weight and Ernest's health issues and my ever diminishing metabolism (love getting older don't you?) have opened my eyes that we could benefit from a change. That's not to say our diet was that horrible before BUT it could stand some improvements.

I ventured upon a challenge called The 14 day Healthy You Challenge put on by Dawna Stone. I honestly don't know much about this lady. I don't think she even has any credentials behind her to make her an expert in anything (much easier to trust a dietitian or nutritionist than someone with nothing that proves they know what they are talking about). However when i read the challenge it provided a meal plan and shopping list. And most of the recipes looked simple and doable even by me. So i joined. i'm in week 2 right now and nearing the end but I'm hooked! I dropped several pounds, my clothes feel looser, and I have a bit more energy. So I decided that meal planning with mostly whole foods is going to be are new way of life.

Now meal planning: I've always found it daunting and unrealistic for my taste. It would take me several hours on a Saturday to plan all of our meals and create a grocery list. Then I'd have to go grocery shopping. And there was most of my Saturday. Too much when I only had two days to get everything done that I can't get to during the week and have some fun too. BUT I finally found a way to make it less of a chore. I plan throughout the week and reuse recipes. And best part: I always have the ingredient I need and I don't have to think of what to eat. I don't grab unhealthy things because I don't have a plan. I now grad healthy foods. Big victory! Now to work on my closet-eating problem :\

So I thought I'd leave you with my meal plan for this week. Notice most of my recipes come from Dawna Stone's website and one or two from Eatingclean.com. There are some great recipes out there!